Horse Artist Interview – Terry Stanley

Name
Terry Howell Stanley

Website
Website: www.terrystanley.com
Blog: www.artladyconfidential.blogspot.com/
Follow Terry on twitter: @terrystanley

Where I am
Green Bay, WI

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
I’m a born and bred Wisconsinite, although originally from the Milwaukee suburbs. My husband and I moved to northeast Wisconsin in 1994 and I became a stay-at-home mom and part-time artist/art instructor.

In 2003, I became founding Director of RIcheson School of Art & Gallery (for major art materials manufacturer Jack Richeson Co.) in Kimberly, WI. Earlier this year I took the proverbial plunge and now own my own working studio/gallery in Green Bay.

When did you first start drawing horses?
About the same time I first picked up a crayon! My parents put me on a Shetland pony when I was two and had to pry me off!

If there was a horse around while I was growing up, I was either on it, helping care for it or drawing it!

You paint more than just horses, what is your favorite subject to paint?
People and Dogs! Equines, Canines & Humans all have personality and that’s what I try to capture with my portraits.

Do you have a favorite horse breed?
Gypsy Vanners and Rocky Mountain Horses fascinate me!

Who are your main influences?
Normal Rockwell (that personality thing), Allen F. Brewer Jr. and I really admire the work of Canadian Artist Valerie Hinz.

Do you (or did you) have an animal that is the muse behind your work?
When I was a horse-crazy 12 year old, I was given the opportunity to muck out stables and care for a horse that lived down the street in exchange for the privilege of exercising him.

I went through tons of paper and paint trying to translate the movements I felt when I was on the Buckshot (a beautiful big bay) onto the two-dimensional surface of the paper.

The challenge continues to keep me interested and enthusiastic about painting horses.

Do you have any secret rituals you do to help you get in the zone for your art?
I currently take 30 minutes at the beginning of each day in the studio to paint a small 5×7 study, these days of dogs (due to a project I thought would be of little interest but has developed a life of it’s own LOL).

Painting for me is a joyous activity and I play blues music rather loudly and tend to dance around at my easel as I paint! Great fun but a little embarrassing when you turn around and the postman’s there waiting for a signature…

Is there a particular place that brings you inspiration?
Two actually: My studio – it’s in a beautifully remodeled 1890’s building: Original hardwood floors, bead-board wainscoting, tin ceilings and an exposed brick wall; and painting outdoors (“en plein air”) – you can’t beat God’s lighting!

What effect do you think the Internet will have on art in general?
The internet’s both an artist’s Heaven and Hell! Your art is potentially exposed to millions…and some of them copy it or claim it as their own.

Also, no matter how good your digital images are, it’s literally impossible for an image on a screen to adequately show the color nuances accurately.

Has it had an effect on yours?
I’ve been very blessed to have had my work come to the attention of many knowledgeable and generous collectors that I would not have encountered without the internet.

Which one is your personal favorite piece?
A posthumous portrait I did of an exquisite white Arabian named Natazia a couple of years ago – both because of her beautiful head, but also because it means so much to the owner that commissioned it.

Would you ever sell it?
I did! It was a commissioned piece.

What else are you passionate about?
My family, my friends, spreading positivity….and good wine!

Working on anything new?
I’m currently working on a rodeo series with an eye toward breaking into the market out West.

More to Come

Thanks to Terry for answering the interview and sharing her art. Be sure to check to her art website periodically for updates about her latest works.

Also stay tuned for more interviews with horse artists and photographers.

Are you a horse artist or do you know an equine artist you’d like to see featured? Add your name and website in the comments below or drop me a note to get involved.